Veteran actor Kanwaljit Singh has spoken about the controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh‘s ‘Satluj’, admitting that he was taken aback by the hurdles the film faced before and after its release. The actor, who portrays DGP Bitta in the film, questioned why audiences were prevented from watching it and revealed that his performance earned appreciation from veterans Naseeruddin Shah and Shashi Ranjan.Originally titled ‘Punjab ’95’, the film remained entangled in censorship-related issues for several years. Although it eventually premiered on an OTT platform, it was taken down from streaming in India within two days.
Kanwaljit Singh applauds the makers’ determination
Reflecting on the film’s prolonged struggle, Kanwaljit praised director Honey Trehan and producers Honey and Ronnie for refusing to compromise despite years of pressure.“I was shocked because it was like that for 2.5-3 years, the case went on and I really admire my director and the producer, Honey and Ronnie, that they stuck to their guns and they never succumbed to the pressure,” Singh told IANS.The actor also recalled how the project continued to face setbacks despite repeated efforts to move forward. “When it was said that 127 cuts have been given and you can send it to Canada, all of a sudden it was pulled back from the Canada Film Festival as well. So, this has been happening with the film for a long time.”The veteran actor questioned the concerns surrounding the film’s release, saying enough time had passed for people to engage in dialogue instead of fearing a backlash.“Eventually, they said that you should release it, ‘what are you afraid of? What backlash will there be?’ Time heals a lot of wounds, and after that all that is left to do is talk. You can talk and sort out something. No one retaliates like this after so long.” In ‘Satluj’, Kanwaljit essays the role of DGP Bitta, a character inspired by former Punjab Director General of Police KPS Gill.
Praise from Naseeruddin Shah and Shashi Ranjan
The veteran actor also shared that his portrayal in the film received heartfelt appreciation from fellow actors Shashi Ranjan and Naseeruddin Shah, something he considers deeply meaningful.“I was quite surprised to receive his (Ranjan) call. After that, I even got a call from Naseer (Naseeruddin Shah). He started speaking in Punjabi, which he speaks rather poorly. I believe he is the ‘God of acting’ and hence anything coming from him has a lot of impact,” he said.
About ‘Satluj’
Directed by Honey Trehan, ‘Satluj’ is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed alleged illegal cremations and extrajudicial killings in Punjab during the militancy period of the 1980s and 1990s. The film began streaming on Zee5 in India on July 3 after a prolonged battle over certification. However, it was removed from the platform within 48 hours after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that the film had been released before completing the mandatory certification process, following which the platform was directed to remove it from its India catalogue.
